Ref Watch: Bernardo Silva lucky to escape red card for Man City against Newcastle after 'reckless' challenge on Dan Burn
Monday 23 February 2026 14:59, UK
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher is back with the latest Ref Watch after a busy weekend of incidents, including Manchester City avoiding another red card following Bernardo Silva's "reckless" challenge on Dan Burn.
Silva escapes red for 'reckless' challenge on Burn
INCIDENT: Bernardo Silva avoided a red card for a second yellow following his challenge on Dan Burn. Silva was booked and then barged into Burn less than one minute later.
DERMOT SAYS: "He takes a chance there; it's a reckless challenge. He doesn't look at the ball. The ball is not there."
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JAY BOTHROYD: "The referee looked at the situation and thought, Silva can't hurt Burn! If it were Haaland, he would've got a yellow card.
"The fact he is a small man is the reason he hasn't looked at it and thought that is a yellow card."
Silva avoided the red and City went on to win the game 2-1 to keep their Premier League title hopes alive. The incident is the latest in a string of decisions that have seen Pep Guardiola's side avoid a sending off this season.
Here, Sky Sports takes a look at the other recent incidents involving City...
Foden avoids red card against Fulham
INCIDENT: Man City's Phil Foden was only booked for a tackle on Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.
DERMOT SAYS: "I think it is a red card. He does not mean to do it, OK, but he has actually caught him on the wrong foot. He has gone to take him on the other foot, but because Bassey has accelerated away, he has caught him on his left ankle with his studs and he is really, really lucky."
Dias should have been sent off vs Forest
INCIDENT: Ruben Dias avoids a second yellow card after referee Rob Jones penalised him for a foul on Igor Jesus 18 seconds into the second half on December.
DERMOT SAYS: "I have sympathy with him [Sean Dyche], I think it is a second yellow card. Dias brings him down.
"Whether it is an accident doesn't matter. That is a second yellow card."
JAY BOTHROYD: Anywhere else on the field, this is an accidental challenge. I don't think they should be yellow cards, but Dermot explained that it stopped a promising attack.
I understand that part now. He should have gotten a yellow card because it's a promising attack. Sean Dyche is right.
Rodri not sent off against Spurs
INCIDENT: Rodri commits two fouls against Tottenham after being booked - should he have been shown a second yellow card?
DERMOT SAYS: "Rodri is really, really lucky. His manager then subs him."
JAMIE O'HARA: "That's the telltale sign for any ref and anyone on the pitch [that Rodri was then subbed].
He should have got sent off. The one on Conor Gallagher is a yellow card."
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Ref Watch takes a look at the other key incidents across the top-flight.
Burn 'unlucky' to see Newcastle goal ruled out after Dias push
INCIDENT: Dan Burn scored for Newcastle but the goal was ruled out for offside despite being pushed into the position by Ruben Dias.
DERMOT SAYS: "Dias commits a foul before the ball is in play so it can't be punished. It's unlucky."
JAY BOTHROYD: "I think it's great play by Dias. That is experience."
Should Hall's goal have been ruled out for offside?
INCIDENT: Lewis Hall's goal for Newcastle could have been offside with Joe Willock possibly interfering with play while in the line of sight of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
DERMOT SAYS: "This is the most difficult part of interpreting offside. The assistant will say Willock's in an offside position. The referee can see the line of vision and will say he's not in view of the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper's got a good view of the ball."
JAY BOTHROYD: "I don't think the goalkeeper has a good view of the ball at all. Willock is there and he's the closest player to him. He can't see the ball coming because Willock and other players are there. He's had to move late. I think Willock is interfering."
Correct call for Kolo Muani goal or did Gabriel 'fool' the ref?
INCIDENT: Randal Kolo Muani had his goal disallowed for a push on Gabriel in the box.
DERMOT SAYS: "The referee gives it. The on-field decision is always going to stand, he thinks there is enough of a push. VAR is never going to say he's got it wrong as the evidence is there."
JAY BOTHROYD: "I thought it was really soft. When you look at the trajectory of the ball, Gabriel is underneath the ball and he realises he is in that position.
"It is not enough to react in the way he did. He has fooled the referee."
